Charlotte, North Carolina
-- 1240 S Lucky Penny Street (I-85 @ Freedom Dr.)
 

Local newspaper, the Charlotte Observer, proclaimed in its July 13, 1963 edition on page 1B that a "$1 million restaurant, motel to be built here." The excellently sited complex probably opened in 1964, and featured 100 guest rooms, color TV, heated pool, playground equipment, Crown Room Restaurant, Grill Room, and a gift shop.

 
Right: Note that the towering sign rose through the drive under canopy a la "Googie" style, and that its rotating "crown" which resembled Best Western's was an intermediary design between being fully three dimensional and stylized.
 
Below: During the 1970s, the Horne's restaurant was converted into a Dutch Pantry as indicated by the sign seen in the center background in the view below.
Brochure views circa 1970s: Dan Donahue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postcard postmarked July 1985: Courtesy of Larry Passaro
 
 
 
 
Photograph October 2005: Courtesy of Robby Delius
 

Above: Probably surviving as a Horne's until the late 1980s, the Motor Lodge was a Villager Lodge prior to Cendant's (now Wyndham International) dissolution of the brand.

Below: During the middle 2000s, the property's owner decided to forgo brand recognition and renamed the former Horne's Real Value Inn.
 
Photographs November 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photograph October 2005: Courtesy of Robby Delius
 
 
Photographs November 2006: Courtesy of Phil Edwards
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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